Frequency-jittering apparatuses, frequency-jittering methods and power management devices

ABSTRACT

A frequency-jittering apparatuses includes an oscillator and a frequency control circuit. The oscillator generates a signal. When the magnitude of the signal exceeds a magnitude of a reference signal, the oscillator operates substantially in a first state; and when the magnitude of the signal is lower than the magnitude of the reference signal, the oscillator operates substantially in a second state different from the first one. The frequency control circuit varies the reference signal to change the frequency of the signal output from the oscillator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/604,408, filed on Oct. 23, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a frequency control method and an oscillator in an electronic device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus of making frequency jitter to lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference).

2. Description of the Prior Art

Currently, most consumer electronic devices adopt switching power supplies as power supplies. The switching power supply controls energy storage and discharge of an inductor by switching a power switch to provide power fulfilling specification requirements. If the switching of the power switch is always maintained at a specific frequency, an electromagnetic wave with the same specific frequency tends to radiate through connections among electronic devices, leading to an EMI problem.

One way to solve the EMI problem is to make the switching frequency of the power switch jitter around a specific frequency, i.e., frequency jittering. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,107,851, 6,249,876 and 7,391,628 provide different methods of frequency jittering. However, these prior art methods all require considerable chip areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a frequency-jittering apparatus is provided. The frequency-jittering apparatus includes an oscillator and a frequency control circuit. The oscillator generates a signal, wherein when magnitude of the signal is larger than magnitude of a reference signal, the oscillator substantially operates in a first state, and when the magnitude of the signal is smaller than the magnitude of the reference signal, the oscillator substantially operates in a second state different from the first state. The frequency control circuit varies the reference signal to change the frequency of the signal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of making a frequency of a signal jitter is provided. The method includes: comparing magnitude of the signal with magnitude of a reference signal; making an oscillator substantially operate in a first state to generate the signal when the magnitude of the signal is larger than the magnitude of the reference signal; making an oscillator substantially operate in a second state to generate the signal when the magnitude of the signal is smaller than the magnitude of the reference signal; and changing the reference signal to change the frequency of the signal. The magnitude of the reference signal is between a maximum value and a minimum value of the signal.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a power management device is provided. The power management device includes an inductor, a power switch, a controller and a frequency-jittering apparatus. The inductor is for storing energy. The power switch, coupled to the inductor, is for controlling a current flowing through the inductor. The controller is for controlling the power switch. The frequency-jittering apparatus includes an oscillator and a frequency control circuit. The oscillator is for generating a signal. When magnitude of the signal is larger than magnitude of a reference signal, the oscillator substantially operates in a first state. When the magnitude of the signal is smaller than the magnitude of the reference signal, the oscillator substantially operates in a second state. The frequency control circuit is for varying the reference signal to thereby change the frequency of the signal according to the signal.

In yet another embodiment, a power management device is provided. The power management device includes an oscillator, a frequency control circuit and a controller. The oscillator is for generating a signal which has a frequency, and the oscillator has an input terminal for receiving a reference signal to control the signal. The frequency control circuit is for generating the reference signal, wherein the reference signal is generated by sampling the signal in a predetermined period of time. The controller, coupled to the oscillator, is for controlling a current of an inductor.

In yet another embodiment, a clock generator is provided, which includes an oscillator and a frequency control circuit. The oscillator has a control terminal to receive a reference signal and generates a substantially-triangular wave signal, wherein the substantially-triangular wave signal has a ramp-up portion and a ramp-down portion, and the ramp-up portion has first and second linear parts with different slope rates. The frequency control circuit varies the reference signal to change the frequency of the substantially-triangular wave signal.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a power source management apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a clock generating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of signals in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the clock generating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a frequency control circuit shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a sample pulse generator shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 a is a potential timing diagram for a combination of the embodiment in FIG. 2 and the frequency control circuit in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 b is another potential timing diagram for a combination of the embodiment in FIG. 2 and the frequency control circuit in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate a further comprehension of objectives, characteristics and advantages of the present invention, the following paragraphs discuss preferred embodiments in conjunction with accompanying drawings for a detailed explanation of the present invention.

For ease of explanation, same or similar functions will be represented by the same element symbol. Therefore, the same symbols in difference embodiments do not necessarily mean that two elements are completely the same. The scope of the present invention depends on the limitations recited in the claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a power management device 60 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Power management device 60 is a flyback power converter which converts energy inputted by the AC (alternating current) power source V_(AC) into an output power source V_(OUT), meeting the specification requirement. Bridge rectifier 62 substantially rectifies the AC power source V_(AC), which may be powered from an outlet on a wall. Power switch 72 controls a current through primary coil L_(p) in transformer 64. When power switch 64 is turned on, the energy stored in transformer 64 increases; when power switch 64 is turned off, energy stored in transformer 64 is released via second coil L_(S). The released electronic power is stored in output capacitor 69 through rectifier 66 and therefore generates output power source V_(OUT). Feedback circuit 68 monitors a magnitude (e.g., a current, a voltage, or a power) of output power source V_(OUT) and provides a feedback signal to controller 74. Controller 74 further receives clock signal Clk and ramp signal V_(osc) from clock generating apparatus 100 to periodically switch the power switch 72. Controller and clock generating apparatus 100 could be integrated in integrated circuit 76.

Please refer to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 3. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment 100 a of clock generating apparatus 100 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of the signals in FIG. 2. Clock generating apparatus 100 a includes frequency control circuit 102 and oscillator 104 a. Oscillator 104 a generates clock signal Clk and ramp signal V_(osc) whose frequency is controlled by reference signal V_(hold) generated by frequency control circuit 102. For example, ramp signal V_(osc) and reference signal V_(hold) are substantially triangular waves, where the frequency of reference signal V_(hold) is 400 Hz, and reference signal V_(hold) makes the frequency of ramp signal V_(osc) vary from 60 kHz to 70 kHz.

Comparator 114 makes ramp signal V_(osc) oscillate between a lower limit V_(oscL), and an upper limit V_(oscH). For example, when the voltage of ramp signal V_(osc) is higher than or equal to upper limit V_(oscH), clock signal Clk becomes logic “0”, leading to a decrement of ramp signal V_(osc); when the voltage of ramp signal V_(osc) is lower than lower limit V_(oscL), clock signal Clk becomes logic “1”, leading to an increment of ramp signal V_(osc).

Oscillator 104 a could operate in at least two states, including a low slope rate state and a high slope rate state. For example, in the low slope rate state, switch 110 b makes capacitor 108 b and capacitor 108 a connect in parallel, and current sources 112 _(u) and 112 _(d) charge/discharge capacitors 108 a and 108 b via differential switches 110 u and 110 d. Therefore, ramp signal V_(osc) generated at one terminal of capacitor 108 a has a relatively lower rising/falling slope rate. In the high slope rate state, switch 110 b separates capacitor 108 b from capacitor 108 a. As only capacitor 108 a is charged/discharged, ramp signal V_(osc) has a relatively higher rising/falling slope rate. In other words, when oscillator 104 a is switched from the low slope rate state to the high slope rate state, the capacitance of a capacitor within oscillator 104 a decreases, and vice versa.

The changing between the states is dependent on a comparison result of comparator 106 between ramp signal V_(osc) and reference signal V_(hold). For example, when ramp signal V_(osc) is higher than reference V_(hold), comparator 106 outputs a signal H/L of a logic level “1”; when ramp signal V_(osc) is lower than reference V_(hold), signal H/L has a logic level “0”. Signal H/L controls switch 110 b to determine whether capacitor 108 b is connected with capacitor 108 a in parallel.

The high and the low slope rate states could be set correspond to the two frequencies of ramp signal V_(osc), respectively. For example, when oscillator 104 a is kept operating in the high slope rate state, ramp signal V_(osc) outputted by the oscillator 104 a has a frequency of 70 kHz; when oscillator 104 a is kept operating in the low slope rate state, ramp signal V_(osc) has a frequency of 60 kHz.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the frequency of ramp signal V_(osc) is controlled by the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold). If reference signal V_(hold) is always not larger than ramp signal V_(osc), oscillator 104 a will operate in the low slope rate state, thus the frequency of V_(osc) kept 60 kHz. If reference signal V_(hold) is always not smaller than ramp signal V_(osc), the oscillator 104 a will operate in the high slope rate state, then the frequency of V_(osc) kept 70 kHz. When reference signal V_(hold) is sometimes larger or sometimes smaller than ramp signal V_(osc) in a clock period, the frequency of V_(osc) will be somewhere between 60 kHz and 70 kHz. Meanwhile, this frequency of V_(osc) will rise with the increment of the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold). In other words, reference signal V_(hold) is capable of controlling the frequency of ramp signal V_(osc).

Therefore, as long as frequency control circuit 102 gradually changes the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold), the frequency of ramp signal V_(osc) could be varied gradually to achieve frequency jittering.

Besides changing the capacitance, the switching of the low and high slope rates could be accomplished via varying a current which charges/discharges a capacitor as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is another embodiment 100 b of clock generating apparatus 100 in FIG. 1. Unlike oscillator 104 a, oscillator 104 b has only one capacitor 108 a. Comparator 106 controls main current source 112 v, and current sources 112 u and 112 d are created through mirroring the main current 112 v. When signal H/L outputted by comparator 106 has a logic level of “1”, main current source 112 v has a lower current value, therefore current sources 112 u and 112 d also have lower current values, leading to a relatively lower rising/falling slope rate of ramp signal V_(osc) generated at one terminal of capacitor 108 a. Alternatively, when signal H/L has a logic level of “0”, main current source 112 v has a higher current value, leading to a relatively higher rising/falling slope rate of V_(osc). The timing diagram of the embodiment 100 b in FIG. 4 is similar to the one shown in FIG. 3. According to the aforementioned description, it should be easily comprehended that the reference signal V_(hold) in the embodiment 100 b is also capable of controlling the frequency of the ramp signal V_(osc).

FIG. 5 is one embodiment of frequency control circuit 102 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. However, frequency control circuit 102 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 can also be implemented using a conventional oscillator, such as a ramp signal generator, a saw-tooth wave generator, or a sine wave generator and so on, to generate reference signal V_(hold) which varies periodically. For example, frequency control circuit 102 can be an oscillator with a current-charging capacitor, similar to oscillator 104 a or 104 b, that outputs a low frequency triangular wave signal as reference signal V_(hold). Frequency control circuit 102 could operate independently, without referencing signals from other oscillators, such as oscillator 104 a or 104 b. Alternatively, frequency control circuit 102 could operate in reference of signals from other oscillators.

Frequency control circuit 102 in FIG. 5 includes sample pulse generator 160, sampler 162 and comparator 164. Like comparator 114 in FIG. 2, the comparator 164 compares the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold) with that of upper limit V_(oscH-jitter) or lower limit V_(oscL-jitter). Similarly, when signal up/down outputted by comparator 164 has a logic level of “1”, current reference signal V_(hold) should rise gradually; when a signal up/down outputted by the comparator 164 has a logic level of “0” , current reference signal V_(hold) should be reduced gradually. The variation range of reference signal V_(hold) defined by upper limit V_(oscH-jitter) and lower limit V_(oscL-jitter) is better within the variation range of ramp signal Vosc defined by upper limit V_(oscH) and lower limit V_(oscL), assuring that ramp signal V_(osc) will cross reference signal V_(hold) within a clock period,. Sample pulse generator 160 determines the timing that the pulse of sampling signal S_(sample) occurs according to signal up/down, signal H/L, and clock signal Clk. When sampler 162 receives the pulse of sampling signal S_(sample), switch 166 is switched on to make reference signal V_(hold) vary with the ramp signal V_(osc). When sampling signal S_(sample) has a logic level of “0”, switch 166 is switched off and reference signal V_(hold) is held or stored in capacitor 168 whose voltage value could be considered a time-invariant value.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of sample pulse generator 160 in FIG. 5. A condition when one pulse of sampling signal S_(sample) occurs could be: a) reference signal V_(hold) rises gradually with time (signal up/down being logic level of “1”); b) ramp signal V_(osc) is rising (clock signal Clk being logic level of “1”); and c) ramp signal V_(osc) rises across reference signal V_(hold) (signal H/L varied from “0” to “1”). The condition above is realized by AND logic gate 186 in FIG. 6. Another condition when the pulse of sampling signal S_(sample) occurs could be: a) reference signal falls gradually with time (signal up/down being a logic level of “0”); b) ramp signal V_(osc) is fallng (clock signal Clk being a logic level of “0”); and c) ramp signal V_(osc) falls below reference signal V_(hold) (signal H/L varied from “1” to “0”). And such condition is realized by AND logic gate 188 and several inverters in FIG. 6. As long as one of the two aforementioned conditions is fulfilled, a rising edge occurs in a signal outputted by OR gate 189. Pulse generator 182 is triggered by a rising edge to make sampling signal S_(sample) generate a pulse which triggers sampler 162 to start sampling. Blocking circuit 184 assures that when one pulse of sampling signal S_(sample) occurs, the logic level changes of signal up/down, signal H/L, and clock signal Clk do not make pulse generator 182 generate a redundant pulse.

FIG. 7 a and FIG. 7 b are potential timing diagrams for a combination of the embodiment 100 a in FIG. 2 and the frequency control circuit 102 in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 a illustrates the condition when signal up/down has a logic level of “1”, showing how the reference signal V_(hold) rises up gradually. FIG. 7 b illustrates the condition when signal up/down has a logic level of “0”, showing how the reference signal V_(hold) falls down gradually.

In FIG. 7 a, at timing t1, ramp signal V_(osc) rises across reference signal V_(hold), and thus signal H/L varies from “0” to “1”, making capacitor 108 b in FIG. 2 connected with capacitor 108 a in parallel. Meanwhile, signal H/L, signal up/down, and clock signal Clk have the same logic level of “1”, then sample pulse generator 160 in FIG. 5 generates a pulse between timings t2 and t3, as shown by sampling signal S_(sample) in FIG. 7 a. This pulse makes capacitor 168 connect with capacitors 108 a and 108 b in parallel, therefore the slope rate of ramp signal V_(osc) will decrease and reference signal V_(hold) will have the same voltage value as ramp signal V_(osc), leading to an uncertain logic level of signal H/L. After this pulse disappears at timing t3, capacitor 168 is disconnected from capacitors 108 a and 108 b, therefore signal H/L will be maintained as “1” . It could be comprehended from FIG. 7 a that assuming timing t3 is away from timing t1 by a delay time dt_(u), the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold) is increased by dv_(u) each time after the reference signal is sampled. The value dv_(u) could be derived using the following equation (1).

d _(vu) =I _(112u) *dt _(u)/(C _(108a) +C _(108b) +C ₁₆₈)  (1)

wherein I_(112u) is a current of current source I_(112u), and C_(108a), C_(108b) and C₁₆₈ represent capacitances of capacitors 108 a, 108 b and 168.

After timing t3, reference signal V_(hold) is substantially maintained as a fixed value until a next sampling. As shown in FIG. 7 a, at timing t4, ramp signal V_(osc) falls across reference signal V_(hold), but does not cause reference signal V_(hold) changed. In practice, the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold) does not need to vary each time when ramp signal V_(osc) rises across reference signal V_(hold); varying could be set to occur after several times of ramp signal V_(osc) rising across reference signal V_(hold),

The operation in FIG. 7 b is similar to that in FIG. 7 a and could be inferred from the description above. As shown in FIG. 7 b, starting at the time when ramp signal V_(osc) falls across reference signal V_(hold) and ending at the time when sampling signal S_(sample) finishes the pulse, the timing interval could be presented by a delay time dt_(d). After each sampling, the voltage value of reference signal V_(hold) decreases by a value dv_(d), which can be derived from the following equation (2).

dv _(d) =I _(112d) *dt _(d)/(C _(108a) +C ₁₆₈)  (2)

wherein I_(112d) is the current of current source 112 d.

From one of the aforementioned embodiments, using a sampling circuit and simple logic circuits can generate reference signal V_(hold) and make reference signal V_(hold) able to vary with time to achieve frequency jittering. In addition, this embodiment could also be implemented without using huge area circuits, such as counters in company with DACs (digital/analog converters), or capacitor matrixes, resulting in a relatively low cost design.

The clock generating apparatuses disclosed above are applicable not only to a flyback power converter but also to other devices or apparatuses that require a clock with frequency jittering.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

1. A method of making a frequency of a signal jitter, comprising: comparing magnitude of the signal with magnitude of a reference signal; making an oscillator substantially operate in a first state to generate the signal when the magnitude of the signal is larger than the magnitude of the reference signal; making an oscillator substantially operate in a second state to generate the signal when the magnitude of the signal is smaller than the magnitude of the reference signal; and changing the reference signal to change a frequency of the signal; wherein the magnitude of the reference signal is between a maximum value and a minimum value of the signal, and the first state and the second state correspond to a maximum frequency and a minimum frequency of the signal, respectively.
 2. A power management device, comprising: an inductor, for storing energy; a power switch, coupled to the inductor, for controlling a current flowing through the inductor; a controller, for controlling the power switch; and a frequency-jittering apparatus of claim 1, for generating a clock signal according to the signal to control the controller.
 3. A clock generator, comprising: an oscillator, having a control terminal to receive a reference signal, for generating a substantially-triangular wave signal, wherein the substantially-triangular wave signal has a ramp-up portion and a ramp-down portion, the ramp-up portion has first and second linear parts with different slope rates; and a frequency control circuit, for varying the reference signal to change the frequency of the substantially-triangular wave signal. 